The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-24

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ring ut the front-door bell.
We were in the dining-room, l must
tell YOU, and there was no fire In the
drawing-room.
The peal had hardly died away, when
we heard heavy footsteps, and Sarah's
voice, in sprightly tones OF welcome
saying:
'"Oh, yes mum She's at home"
gave one glance of agony at Lizzie,
and then sprang wildly into large cup
board where we kept jam and news
papers, and drew the door to after me.
In this cupboard was another door
opening into the surgery, and my idea
had been to escape through it and up
the back stairs, then, after few minutes
spent on a hurried toilet, l could de-
scend gracefully attired. During those
few minutes Lizzie would entertain the
visitors.
Imagine my horror when I found the
door of exit locked, while, oh! dismal
truth. the visitors were none other than
the Jerry Winterbottoms, before whom l
could not appear in my eccentric cos
tune. -"s-
Lizzie, who had OWNED my plan of es-
cape, but who was, of course, Ignorant OF
its Illustration, began to converse in the
most elegant manner, and confirmed Sa-
rah's statement that was at home, add
ing that would be down in a moment,
having Just been called to the nursery!
This was all very welkfor five, for ten,
even for fifteen minutes; but at last the
conversation, which had been getting
more and more jerky and disconnected,
stopped altogether, and painful silence
fell.
BY and by the distraught Elizabeth
spoke again.
'I do not think the maid can have told
Mrs. Ellis you were here. If you will
excuse me, I will go and see."
Then heard her leave the room, and
Mrs. Jerry say to Mr.. Jerry:
Glow very extra rdinary! Do you
think anything has happened9 Do you
think she has gone mad9 have heard
from one or two people that she is little
queer"
had to bite my tongue to prevent my
self from screaming out "Who"-at the
idea of people being so horrid as to say I
was "queer," just because kept myself
to myself, as our old nurse used to say.
"Such conduct is more than queer, it
is impudent," answered her husband in
his most pompous tones; ''but If this
rudeness is Intentional I shall know how
to punish it."
Then heard hurried footsteps passing
to and fro overhead; they were evidently
seeking met was too terrible? l dared
not move or make sound, and l was so
unhappy! :,
Presently Lizzie came back, and said,
in a troubled voice:
II am very sorry. am afraid there
has been some mistake. The servant
Mrs. Ellis is not at
home.
"Not at home!" echoed Mr.. Winter
bottom; "why, you told me she was
yourself"
IL know-but> but she-she must
have gone OUT"
"Gone out!' cried Mr.. Winterbottom.
"Come, my dear, there is no mistake
about that, we won't intrude any longer"
And the pair swept out of the room.
Lizzie followed them, and she and
nurse having come to the conclusion
that must Somehow have slipped out of
the house and perhaps gone to Mrs.
Dacrcs', went home, and l was left in my
dark corner sobbing with misery.
What would Bcntly say2 his best pa
tients mortally offended! I was too un-
happy to make any effort to attract at
tention, but lay huddlcd up among the old
Lancets and Duly 7e'rgraphs, when the
bell rany again, and this time some one
went into the consulting room, saying:
every well, 1 will wait"
1 could hear this person tidgcting
about, taking the books from the shelves,
and opening and shutting the drawers in
the escritoire. 80. :,
/ was lust thinking how inquisitive it
was, and how annoyed Bently would be
at such behavior, when the newcomer
walked into the surgery. There was
wide crack in the wall, and through 1t L
could see that the prying individual was
Young Jerry Winterbo!tom. Was ever
to lie delivered from that family!
thought he looked more than usually
flustered and odd, and he did not sit
still, but pulled the bottles about Just as
he had don, the books, and talked to
himself in rambling, incoherent way;
then he began to dance softly up and
down, first on one leg and then on the
other and to make the most horrible
grimaces.
was watching him intently, when
suddenly he caught sight of an instru-
mcnt-2ase on the table; his eyes lighted
up, he pounced on it, opened it, and
drew out a knife, sharp and awful look
ing.
lie ran his finger lightly up and down
the edge, laughing all the time. Then
he went up to the loQking-glass and un-
buttoued his collar-he was going to cut
his throat.
was so scared that I could not artic-
ulate; but flung myself against the door
and yelled wild, uncarthly yell.
This, coming as it apparently did from
nowhere at all, frightened him so that he
dropped the knife and sprang back Into
corner, where he crouched, rolling his
ewes and trembling with terror.
/ kept on shrieking as loudly as ever l
could, but I don't believe the servants
would ever have heard me, and l should
have gone as mad as Jerry himself, if
Timothy Donovan, an Irish laborer, had
not happened to come in for his mothers
medicine.
lie thought Mr.. Winterbottom had got
an attack Of "the horrors" )" malady with